This is the background of the children in our care (12/20)

1. Some are victims of the aftermath of war:

Rainbow Orphanage is located in an area of northern Cambodia which was a major area of conflict between Phnom Penh Government soldiers and troops of the Khmer Rouge. Most of the young men of that time (1979 - 98) were recruited on both sides of  the civil war. Many became victims of this war and now live in the villages as cripples and amputees. After the war they  returned to their villages, but lacking either wealth or education,  resorted to living in the forests, cutting wood or living off other resources.  - and many succumbed to malaria and other water- borne diseases or were killed by land mines left behind from the war. Many children were left fatherless. 

Also, until recently, the mortality rate among women in childbirth was very high - with no access to western medicine, and many children were left motherless.

Adults often drifted to towns seeking menial work as cleaners and laborers but often the little money they earned was squandered on drink or in the local brothels - many engaged in unprotected sex, developed HIV and either died  or didn’t return to their village at all,  leaving no support for their surviving family members.

2. The poverty of families and subsequent migration from the homeland

The Pol Pot period and the subsequent years of civil war saw a massive dislocation of the population and hence the disruption of normal village life. Many moved to other parts of the country or to neighboring countries to survive. A large number did not return.  Some women returned to their villages with children but no husbands - others simply left unwanted children with other village people and returned to the life they knew in the cities. Relatives or grandparents often had little interest (or money) to provide education for the children, some were ashamed of the status of the children - many were neglected, ignored or abandoned.

3. The strict traditional nature of Cambodian Society

Cambodia is a very traditional society - in its values and in its regard for the customs of marriage and the bringing up of children. According to custom, the parents approve and choose partners for their children - and most young people follow this custom. The parents then provide the marriage with support, with inheritance and even help to set the new couple up in business. By contrast, if the young people break this custom their parents provide no support and often disown the couple. They ‘lose face’ in their own community and are not willing to accept responsibility for grandchildren - who are then often abandoned.

4. Unemployment and bank debt

About 85% of people living in the country are farmers - with no education and not enough land for cropping- and there is very little alternative unemployment. Many get heavily into Bank debt (sometimes inflating their income prospects to borrow money and perhaps start a new business.)  But with little experience, they inevitably become bankrupt, the property they have defaults to the Bank- so with no inheritance at all to give to their children - they seek refuge in a neighboring country like Thailand. Once again, the children are either abandoned or left with ageing grandparents.

Rainbow Orphanage has been established in this area to deal with some of these problems to assist these children and their families. We try to supplement the minimum Government  services needed and provide care, food, shelter and education  for these very vulnerable children. We are pleased to say that already the first group of children has progressed to years 10 -12 and we hope that, given the opportunities to become nurses, health workers, teachers, they can become partners in contributing to, and rebuilding, the local communities.